Molding apparatus



1942- L. M. PARKHURST MOLDING APPARATUS Filed 001;. 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l I a INIVENITQRY W AT TO RN 5Y5.

Nov. 24, 1942. L. -M. PARKHURST' MOLDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES smear OFFICE MOLDDWZ ZQZRATUS Layton M. Parkhurst, Norristown, Pa.

Original application March 24, 1938, Serial No. 197,890. Divided and this application October 26, 1940, Serial No. 363,014

3 Claims. (01. 25-121) same while forming said slab in the mold forming the subject of this invention.

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the improved mold embodying this invention for casting the concrete wall slabs of a building with reenforcing and coupling means embedded therein for strengthening the slab and enabling the same to be coupled with others of like character.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of this mold taken on line 3-3, Fig 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the same taken on line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section of this mold taken on line 55, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the completed slab which is formed in this improved mold.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing part of a locking bar and a frame bar used in connection with the slab formed by the mold of this invention. I

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing slabs made by the mold of the invention connected with a locking bar and a girder of the building construction.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary elevation showing the means for connecting a vertical locking bar with a horizontal frame bar which engages adjacent concrete slabs.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line Ill-l9, Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on line I l-I I, Fig. 10.

In the following description similar characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views of the drawings.

In the construction of the horizontal walls, the vertical walls and other parts of the building construction a plurality of slabs are employed which are arranged end to end and connected with each other so as to form panels, planes, sections or shells of these walls. In their general construction these slabs are substantiallyunn form so that the same can be used in the walls of the various parts of the building. The pre ferred form of each of these slabs is as follows? The numeral represents a flat body of concrete which is preferably of substantially rectangular form in outline and when used in an upright wall the same is provided in its lower and upper edges with longitudinal horizontal T- shaped grooves 51, 58 and in its opposite vertical s i edges with upright longitudinal T-shaped grooves 5-9 and in each of its corners this concrete body is provided with a cutout or notch 60, as shownin Fig. 6. Each of these slabs is also provided at the inner upright corners of its concrete body for use in certain parts of the building with rabbets or recesses d8. Within each of the vertical edge portions of the concrete body of each slab body 55, is embedded an upright anchoring bar or plate SI which is arranged transversely of the slab and extends across the adjacent vertical groove 59 in the respective slab. This anchoring bar or plate is provided with a longitudinal row of locking openings 62 which are arranged between the opposite vertical edges of this bar and register with the adjacent groove 59 of the concrete body. These anchoring bars or plates extend nearly the full height of the respective concrete slab body and also serve as part of the means for reenforcing the strength of this concrete body in addition to serving as part of the means for coupling or looking together the vertical edge of one slab with the corresponding vertical edge of an adjacent slab. The mass of concrete in each slab between the two upright anchoring bars or plates 6| is reenforced and strengthened by means of a woven wire fabric which is arranged in the concrete body of the slab in line with two corresponding longitudinal edges of the anchoring bars and preferably composed of a plurality of upright wires 63 arranged at intervals in the concrete body throughout the width thereof and a plurality of horizontal wires these anchoring bars but this is preferably acv complished by arranging the horizontal wires in pairs and providing the opposite ends of each pair of these wires with two end pieces or strands 65 which project at right angles to the body of these horizontal wires and along opposite sides" the loops of the reenforcing fabric, as best shown in Fig. 1. v

This reenforcement which comprises the woven fabric and the anchoring bars is capable of being woven continuously in the form of an endless web in the manner now commonly practiced in the manufacture of fencing composed of longitudinal strands of wire and transverse strips of wood and therefore enables this reenforcing fabric to be produced at comparatively low cost and cut up in short sections as required and then bent into the form shown in Fig. 1 preparatory to being placed in an appropriate mold in which the concrete body is cast around the same for completing the slab suitable for use in the build- When installing slabs of this character in a building construction the horizontal upper and lower grooves 51 and 58 are engaged with metal frame bars 67 and the opposing vertical edges of two adjacent slabs are coupled by a vertical locking bar 13 arranged in the vertical grooves 59 of these slabs, which bars have inclined hooks 14 on their opposite edges engaging with the openings or slots 62 in the anchoring plates SI of the slabs. The locking bar is connected with the frame bar 61 by a bolt I6 which is arranged in a recess or pocket formed by the opposing notches 60 in the corresponding corners of adjacent slabs. The rabbits 48 of adjacent slabs receive between them a girder bar, joist or plate I08 which forms part of the building construction and which is provided at its end with hooks H engaging with openings or slots I I3 in the respective locking. bar I3, 7

Although various means may be employed for producing a building slab comprising a concrete body having embedded therein between its opposite longitudinal edges the woven wire fabric shown in Fig. 1 and also having embedded in its opposite longitudinal edge portions the anchoring .bars which are connected with said woven fabric, and also providing the body of said slab in its edges with the various grooves, rabbets and notches hereinbefore described, it is preferable to employ for this purpose the molding apparatus which is shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and constructed as follows:

The numeral I 45 represents a lower mold plate or board preferably constructed from a rectangular sheet of metal which is maintained in a flat and even condition by providing its underside with L-shaped stiffening ribs of metal having horizontal flanges I5I secured to the mold board by welding or otherwise and vertical flanges I46 projecting downwardly and adapted to rest on a support. On the upper side of this bottom plate two longitudinal mold walls I41 are mounted by means of horizontal flanges I48 projecting laterally outward from the lower edges of these longitudinal walls and resting on the upper side of this bottom plate. On the opposite end portions of the bottom plate are mounted two transverse end walls I49 each of which normally engages with the corresponding ends of the longitudinal side walls I 41 and is provided with a horizontal outwardly projecting flange I50 at its lower edge which rests upon the upper side of the bottom plate I45, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Each of these transverse end walls I49 is detachably connected with the corresponding ends of the side walls so that these end walls may be moved toward and from the side walls for the purpose of closing and opening the mold, this being preferably accomplished by means of longitudinal coupling pins I52 secured at their inner ends, by welding or otherwise, to the outer sides of each pair of corresponding ends of the side walls and projecting through openings in the adjacent parts of the respective end wall I49, and

screw nuts I53 applied to the outer threaded ends of the coupling pins I52 and bearing against the outer side of the respective transverse end wall Hi9. On their inner sides, the transverse walls of the mold are provided with pattern members which are adapted to form the T-shaped grooves 51 and 58 in the lower and upper edges of the concrete body of the slab, also the notches 60 in the several corners thereof and also the rabbets 48 on the inner vertical corners of the concrete body for which purpose each of these pattern members consists of a pattern I54 of T- shape in cross section mounted on the inner side of the respective transverse mold wall between the opposite longitudinal walls and adapted to form the T-shaped grooves 51, 58 in the lower and upper ends of the slab body and mold blocks I55 on the inner side of each of the end walls at the corners between the end walls and the side walls and adapted to form the notches in the slab body. On the inner sides of the longitudinal walls I41 are mounted pattern members having bar-shaped parts I56 which form the longitudinal grooves 59 in opposite edges of the concrete body of the slab for the reception of the locking bars I3, also inclined hook-shaped parts I51 which form the inclined hook receiving recesses 15 in the bottom of the grooves 59 for the reception of the inclined hooks I4 of this locking bar, and also the enlarged parts I64 which form the clearance spaces 48 at the inner longitudinal corners of the concrete body for the reception of the end portions of girder bars I08.

Means are provided for moving each of the side walls and the pattern or mold members mounted thereon into and out of its operative position in a direction parallel with the inclination of the hook patterns thereon so that the mold member can be moved inwardly into its operative position and cause the reenforcing fabric and anchoring bars to be properly located within the slab before the concrete body is poured into the mold, and afterthis concrete body has been formed with the reenforcing fabric and anchoring .bars embedded therein, the hook patterns may be withdrawn from the slab without disturbing any part of the completed slab. The preferred means for thus movably connecting each of the longitudinal walls of the mold on the bottom plate of the same are constructed as follows:

Each of the longitudinal edge portions of the bottom plate I45 of th mold is provided with a plurality of key-hole slots, preferably two in number, each of which is provided with an inner inclined runway portion I58 which is narrow and comparatively long and has parallel sides and an outer releasing eye portion I59 which is com- I paratively large and preferably of round form as After thalongitudinal side walls have been thus 5 shown in Fig. 2. The inner narrow portions of the several key-hole slots in each longitudinal edge portion of the bottom plate of the mold are parallel with each other. The portions of the flanges I5I of the strengthening ribs on the underside of the bottom plate I are provided with short notches or slots I60 which register with the inner end portions of the runways I58 of the key-hole slots, as shown in Fig. 5. The longitudinal flange I48 of each of the side walls of the mold is provided with means which cooperate with the key-hole slots in the respective part of the mold board for the purpose of causing this side wall to move in an inclined path toward and from its operative position for the purpose of closing and opening the mold and also permitting the reranged at the lower end of this coupling pin and adapted, while in the innermost position of the respective side wall I41, to engage with the underside of the flange I5I on the mold bottom I45 and also capable in the retracted position of the respective side wall to move upwardly and downwardly in the enlarged outer part or eye I59 of the bottom plate for the purpose of dismembering and reassembling the mold.

In the use of this mold, the same is first opened by separating its side and end walls. The reenforcement and anchoring means, shown in Fig. 1 and comprising the sheet of woven fabric 63 and 64 and the longitudinal anchoring bars I6I, are then placed over the bottom plate and within the mold cavity formed between the several side and end walls of the mold. The pattern hooks I51 of the side walls are then engaged with the coupling openings 62 of the locking bars while the same and the reenforcement fabric associated therewith are in a more or less relaxed condition within the mold. The two side walls are then moved lengthwise and inwardly relatively to each other and at an angle relative to the bottom plate of the mold by engagement of the shanks IBI of the coupling pins with the inclined inner parts I58 of the key-hole slots in the mold bottom plate. During this movement of the side walls the inclined pattern hooks I5I operate with a wedging action on the anchoring bars 6| and cause the latter to be drawn outwardly until they engage with the inner sides of the groove forming pattern strips I56, thereby accurately locating these anchoring bars in the mold'so that when the concrete body is poured into the mold the anchoring bars will occupy the correct position so that the openings 62 thereof can be properly engaged by the coupling hooks 14 of the locking bars.

during the operation of connecting the opposing edges to two adjacent slabs while erecting the respective panel, shell or plane of the building. At the same time that the locking bars are drawn apart, by the wedging action of the hook patterns I 57, the intervening woven wire fabric is stretched or straightened out into the form of a comparatively flat sheet so that the same is taut and therefore provides the most efiective reenforcement for the central part of the concrete body of the slab after the concrete has been poured in the mold and has been properly hardened.

moved intotheir innermost position and the reenforcing andlccking means have been drawn into their proper position, the transverse end walls of the mold are engaged with the opposite ends of the side walls and secured thereto by applying the'fastening nuts I 53 to the coupling pins I52, thereby completing the mold ready for pouring the concrete into the mold cavity for producing a slab having its edges grooved and rabbeted and the reenforcement and anchoring means embedded therein in the manner described. The concrete may be introduced into the mold by any suitable means so as to completely fill the mold cavity whichuis formed by the bottom, side walls and end walls, any concrete projecting above hese walls being struck off so that the top of the concrete body will be even and parallel with the underside of the same which rests on the bottom plate. After the concrete has hardened sufliciently to be self-sustaining and nondeformable the end walls are disconnected from the side walls and the latter are first moved away from opposite longitudinal edges of the cast slab in a direction parallel with the inclination of the molding or pattern hooks I51 until the heads I63 of the coupling pins are in line with the enlarged outer ends or eyes of the key-hole slots after which the side walls may be lifted from the bottom mold plate, leaving the finished slab free to be removed and the drying and hardening of the same to be completed in any well-known and approved manner so that the same can be used in the erection of the building of which the same is to form a part.

This mold is comparatively simple in construction, the same is not liable to get out of order and permits of manufacturing molded slabs expeditiously and with case so that the cost of producing the same is reduced to a minimum.

I claim as my invention:

l. A mold for making a building slab having a concrete body and grooves in edges of said body, comprising a bottom plate, two longitudinal side wallsmovabletoward and from each other on said plate, a pattern mounted on each of the side walls and adapted to be projected into and retracted from the space within the mold for producing a longitudinal groove in the respective edge of the slab formed in the mold, the inner part of said pattern being provided with inclined projections adapted to form hook shaped recesses in the bottom of the respective groove of the slab, and means for guiding each of said patterns on said bottom. plate and causing the same to move in a direction parallel with its inclined projections.

2. A mold for making a building slab having a concrete body and grooves in edges of said body, comprising a bottom plate, two longitudinal side Walls movable toward and from each other on said plate, a pattern mounted on each of the side walls and adapted to be projected into and retracted from the space within the mold for producing a longitudinal groove in the respective edge of the slab formed in the mold, the inner part of said pattern being provided with inclined projections adapted to form hook shaped recesses in the bottom of the respective groove of the slab, and means forguiding said patterns on said bottom plate and causing the same to move in a direction parallel with th respective inclined projections including key-hole slots arranged in said bottom plat and each having an inner narrow inclined run-Way and, an outer enlarged release site edge portions of said body and a wire fabric connecting said anchoring bars, said mold comprising a bottom plate, two longitudinal side walls movable toward and from each other on said plate, two end walls movable toward and from each other on said plate, a pattern mounted on each of the side walls and adapted to be projected into and retracted from the space Within the mold for producing a longitudinal groove in the respective edge of the slab formed in the mold, the inner part of said pattern being pro= vided with inclined projections adapted to form hook shaped recesses in the bottom of the respec= tive groove of the slab, and said inclined projec= tions being also adapted to pass through the openings in the anchoring bars placed in the mold and draw them outwardly by a cam action toward the side walls of the mold and also stretch the wire fabric reenforcement which is attached to said anchoring bars, and means for guiding each side wall and the pattern mounted thereon on said bottom plate.

LAYTON M. PARICHURST. 

